Bitcoin futures trading begins on Cboe exchange in Chicago

Bitcoin has begun trading on a major exchange for the first time in what is being regarded as a step towards legitimising the digital currency.Trading opened at 23:00 GMT Sunday on the Cboe Futures Exchange in Chicago, valuing Bitcoin at $15,000.The currency’s futures were volatile for the first 20 minutes, rising to about $16,600 before dropping back.Bob Fitzsimmons at Wedbush Securities said about 150 trades were made in the first few minutes: “It’s quiet.”The Cboe’s move is expected to be followed next week by a rival listing on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.Anticipation of the first mainstream listings have helped the controversial currency soar past $10,000 and then over $17,000 on Thursday before retreating. Bitcoin was trading at about $15,230 on Monday, according to Coindesk.com.Nick Colas, of Data Trek research, said the futures listings gave Bitcoin “legitimacy – it recognises that it’s an asset you can trade”.Futures are a type of derivative contract that allows trading based on movements in Bitcoin prices, without requiring ownership of the currency itself.The start of the Cboe market was low key, with “no champagne”, an exchange insider said.However, Cboe tweeted to warn that its website was running slowly and could be temporarily unavailable, but that all trading systems were operating normally. What is Bitcoin?It is a digital “alternative” currency that mostly exists online and is not printed or regulated by central banks
Bitcoins are created through a complex process known as “mining” and then monitored by a global network of computers
About 3,600 new Bitcoins are created each day, with about 16.5 million now in circulation
Like all currencies, its value is determined by how much people are willing to buy and sell it for
The Cboe and CME launches were made possible following approval by the US Commodities and Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).However, the regulator has warned investors about the “potentially high level of volatility and risk in trading these contracts”.

Its supporters include the Winklevoss twins, who have been called the first Bitcoin billionaires, while critics include CNBC financial commentator Jim Cramer. He argues that futures trading opens the door to “short sellers” that bet on downward moves in asset prices.Bitcoin is not regulated by any country’s central bank and has no universally recognised exchange rate.Cboe said trading will be suspended for two minutes if Bitcoin prices rise or fall by 10% in a bid to reduce wild fluctuations.”We are committed to continue to work closely with the CFTC to monitor trading and foster the growth of a transparent, liquid and fair Bitcoin futures market,” the Cboe said.The Futures Industry Association, which includes some of the world’s biggest derivatives brokerages, has criticised the CFTC’s decision, arguing that insufficient attention has been paid to the risks involved.
Source: BBC